Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-05
A CHESTNUT
WHICHTHRCITY COUNCIL WILL BIZ CALLED
UPON TO CRACK.
A Probability That Worm Nay be Found IN II
The CrsmatOry Building the SubsctOf lnVeShga-
ton, Yssterday-LOOse Business Methods

IT Is delusion.
But all the same the city will have to
foot the bill.
This is the situation regarding the Gre
matory building in a nutshell.
A chestnut shell.
The picturesque ruin which crowns the
summit of Wheeling hill was the sn6ject
of good deal OF anxious inquiry az the
C ty Hall, yesterday, and from what can
be learned of the matter, there Will De
some interesting facts developed al the
meeting of the Health Committee, called
for Monday evening, and subsequently, a
lively second act in Council, when the
thing comes mp in that body. The
trouble is about the iron building
erected az shelter for the gnr page furnace.
The Pittsburg Bridge Company, which put
up the edifice, has grown tired of waiting
for it's money, and as the company very
well knew that the city was dissatisfied
with the house, they yesterday sent MIR
Clearinghouse, one of their experts, down
to the city to see Just where the hitch was
and how payment could be arranged. Mr..
Clearinghouse arrived yesterday about
noon, and spent the remainder Of the day
in talking to the City Clerk and Health
Officer, and getting information. He made
a statement which, if true, il the reverse
of creditable to the gentlemen who were at
the helm when the building was ordered
and set up.
To begin with, although the Health Com
mittee of the former Council had plan of
building before it, prepared by Mr. Rea,
and approved it as being up to the require
ments of the crematory, Mr.. Smith, the
contractor, according to Mr.. Darlington,
went up to Pittsburg, and informed the
Bridge Company people that there were no
plans in existence, but that they could 90
to work and put up house of the dimen-
sions he would furnish, and it would pass
muster. They drew plan, which was
approved by the Heath Officer in letter
to the Company, and in which he told
them to go ahead and get up the house,
and on this and other assurances, the
Bridge Company got ont the iron for the
building, brought it down and set it up.
That is how it failed to give satis-
faction, and also explains why members
of Council who were familiar with the
plan before the committee, failed to recog-
niZe the house after it was put up on the
hill. For instance, the plans before the
committee provided for the adequate ven
tilatOn of the house, something very
necessary at all times with furnace in
side it hot enough to melt steel, but the
building which was sent down by the
Bridge Company and which now adorns
the top of the hill is, or rather was, until
that October gale ripped it open, simply a
tight box, in which the furnace would not
only roast the garbage, but the Crematory
Keeper as well. The price for the build
ing was to he $3.50, and it is very probable
the city will have to pay this sum, but it
gets practically nothing for the money
But this is no fault of the Company, which
cot only got mp the best house it could, in
the absence of plans and specifications
approved by the city, but even went to
an extra expense of $50 or 80, to make
the furnace and house fit after it was
ready to be put together. Mr.. CARING
house says the Company did not even
know the house was to be set on the top
of hill, where it would be exposed to
almost constant high winds, and therefore
made no provision for fastening it down.
Some one seems to have blundered all
through the matter, and the members of
the Committee on Health will have beau
tiful time WHEN they start to unravel the
tangle.
Mr.. Clearinghouse went back to Pitts
burg last night Int he will return Monday,
and will endeavor to bring NJ. V. Smith
with him.